Reduction of chromium volatilisation from stainless steel interconnector of solid oxide electrochemical devices by controlled preoxidation

•Chromium volatilisation from AISI 441 at 800°C in O2+5%H2O was measured and was shown to depend on gas velocity.•Preoxidation of samples before volatilisation measurements could reduce volatilisation rate by a factor 10.•Preoxidation at 250°C formed an iron oxide scale, making a physical barrier between the steel and the gas phase.•For preoxidation at 850°C in CO2/CO, the reduction of the volatilisation rate was the result of the modification of chromia electronic properties from p to n.